Bank account expediter



June 27, 1944. R. E. BAUDER BANK ACCOUNT EXPEDITER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 18, 1943 Fcha-rd Roe. coNT,NuAT|0N oF STAT CHECAS Richard R06 Effe Pau.

June 27, 1944. R. E. BAUDER 2,352,175

BANK ACcoIUNT EXPEDITER Filed March 18, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 27, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE A i i 2,352,175 v v BANK ACCOUNT EXPEDITER l `Raymond E. Bauder, Chicago, Ill. Application Marsh 1s, 1943, serial No. 479,652

Y (Cl. 12g-16.7)

4 claims.

e VThe invention aims to provide a novel and advantageous visible filing device for expediting the handling of depositors accounts at banks, and in carrying out this end, further objects are to provide for quick and easy inspection. of checks drawn on any account and accurate comparison of the check signatures with the specimen signature on a novel signature card kept by the bank; to provide a convenient folder attached tothe signature card to retain all examined checks (and preferably deposit slips also) relating tothe account of th'eperson whose signature appears on said signaturecard, and to form said folder from a sheet detachably connected with said signature card and adapted to constitute a monthly statement to be detached and mailed to the depositor.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel device hereinafter fully described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings. Y

Figure 1 is a front elevation.

` Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view on line `f2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2

,with the front portion of the folder unfolded.

Figs; 4, 5 and 6 are perspective views showing not only structural characteristics of the device butpreferred ways of using the same. Y

A preferred construction has beenv illustrated and will be specifically described, with the understanding, however, that within the scope of the-invention as claimed, variations may be made. Moreover, while the description will referto the account of an individual, it is to be understood that the same structure may be employed for joint accounts, for accounts in which 'aj second person may sign if necessary in place ofthe usual person signing checks, and for the accounts of various kinds of rms or business establishments.

' -A visible filing card I0 is provided having a folded-over head bar. II at its upper end, said head bar Yand the subjacent portions of the card projecting laterally to provide ears I2 for recep- 'tion in guide grooves along the edge portions of a shallow filing tray (not shown). 'I'he lower edge ofi the head bar II is provided with tongues I3 `extending through slots or slits I4 (Fig. 2) in the lcard I0, said tongues diverging with respect to said card so that the tongues of any filing card Il!y may hook over the upper portionof the subvjacent card in the ling tray, leaving the lower Aportions of the various cards readily visible.

The'card IU and the structural features v I I vto I4 associated therewith are disclosed and claimed in my U. S. application Serial No. 475,119, led February 8, 1943. This application also" discloses a form offling tray with which the cards forming part of the present invention may be used.V

e Along its lower end, the card Il)v is provided vwith an area I5 to display a specimen signature off the person to whose account the card relates, there being preferably aA line I6 printed on the card as a guide in writing the signature. Should the account be such that checks may be drawn by more than oneperson, the necessaryadditional signature or signatures would be placed on the area I5 and it is, therefore, obvious'that `other guide lines, such asy I6, could be employed,

if desired. This area also preferably includes a. station", Il for the depositors accountnumber,

and his name and address are preferably confspicuously typed on said area below the specimen signature. e A folder I8 of flat form lies upon the `frontof lthe file or signature card I0 andvhas. its lower vbeing indicated at 20 rin this and other views and a deposit slip at 2|. The checks and deposit slipsmaybe left in this position until reached for inspection 'as to signature, post dating,` etc.V Any check thus"'visibly laid upon the vfolder I8 will have its "signature directly above the specimen signature on'the card I0 'as'seen in Fig. 4, for convenient and accurate compar-ison of said check signature with said specimen signature.

`After inspection and signature comparison, the

checkI may be placed in the folder I8 as seen in Fig. 5, and all deposit slips after proper examination lare also placed in this folder. Ifdesired, the checks and deposit slips may be offset to'r the right as seen in Fig. 5 when they are placed in the folder I 8, to signify something relating to them, for example, that they have been examined. In thisoiTset-to-the-right position, all essential data on the checks is accessible, suchas account number, amount and signature. If desired, when the checks are placed in the folder I8, they may be offset to the left to indicate something relating to them, for instance, that they have not been examined. Thus, even in a well filled filing tray, items may be instantly spotted and it becomes unnecessary to touch the cards of other accounts, as would be the case were all items (examined and not examined) sorted without respect to such offsetting. In other applications of the invention, this offsetting of items to right and/or left might wellindicatafor example-(l) items posted and (2) items lnot, posted, etc. Banksgenerally post their checking accounts two or three times a day, as otherwise they would have difficulty in determining the present status of each account.

Ordinarily, if a check should be presnted'and questioned, piles of checks and deposit slips representing all accounts and unposted transactions to the moment must bev ngered' to' determine the available balance. When using the present invention, however, say with allunposted I items in juxtaposition, the operation is greatly facilitated, vparticularly when the folder. I8 is formed from a sheet to constitute a monthly statement sheet to be sent to the depositor., asis preferable. When such a monthly statement sheet is employed in forming, the folder I8, deposits andvwithdrawals are entered on the sheet (see Fig. 3). Whenever a deposit slip is examined andA placedin ther folder, a notation is made on the sheet as to thle'amount of the deposit. YSimilarly whenever a checkis examined and placed in the folder, the account is debited accordingly on the sheet. Thus,.it'is only a matter of moments to. determine the' present standing of anyY account. u y

The sheet forming the folder I8 is denoted at 22, the: dimension of saidA sheet from its upper to its lower end (see Fig. 3) being considerably greater than thecorresponding dimension of the card Ill, providing amplespace-` on one.. or both sides of said vsheet for various entries. Thelupper end of this sheet 22i-is connected with the card I (IY by passing the tongues I3 through slots or slits 23 in said upper end. While two of theserslots or slits 23 are shown, and. the head bar IIhastwo tongues I3, the invention m not concerned with number. In fact, the present application is not concerned with any particular way of attaching the .sheet` 22 to the card Ill, and the specific attaching means shown is disclosedin the application above referred to.

Whenthe preferred. constructionV herein. disclosed, is followed. with-the folder or pocket. I8 formed from. a sheet 22 vconstituting a monthly statement. sheet tofbe detachedy and. sent.l to. the depositor, onefold of said sheet substantially at its center will suffice, the line of foldr constituting the lower end of thepocket or folder ashereinbeforeidentified at I.9. 'I'heupwardly folded halfvv of the sheet 22 forms a flat support upon which checks and the like maybe placedin readiness for examination as seen in Fig. '4 and also in Fig. 6. In the klatter View, va check'. and

ldeposit slip 2'Iv shown resting upon the folder I'8 in Fig'. 4 have been placed within said folder as illustrated also in Fig. y5,v and anotherv check 2l!ab has been laid upon said folder in readiness for examination.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision has been made forcarrying out the objects of the invention, and whilepreferred details have been disclosed, attention is again invited tothe ppssibility'ofmak.-

ing variations within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A bank account expediter comprising a file card to be kept by a bank, said iile card having an area along its lower edge upon which the signature of a bank depositor may be written, and a flat folder for retaining checks drawn by said depositor, said folder being attached to said card and having its loweredge disposed along theY upper margin of said signature area, whereby any check'drawn on said account may be laidon said folder for inspection and accurate comparison of the check signature with the subjacent signature on said signature area of said y card,v and all examined checks may be retained in said` folder, the right and left ends of said folder being'open to permit checks in said folder to projectindicatively beyond either end thereof.

2. A structure as specified in claim l; said folder and card having separably engaged connecting means detachably connecting. said folder with said card,v said folder being ruled and constituting a statementV blank forthe depositors account..

3. A bank account .expediter comprising aviile card tobe, kept` by a bank, said card. being. of greater dimension from its upper to. its lower edge than the corresponding dimension of a conventional bank check,y saidcard havingan area along its lower end uponwhicn the signature of a depositor having an accountat said bankmay be written, a sheet lyingzupon said card, saidsheet beingof considerably greater dimension from its upper to its lower end than the corresponding die mension of said card, and means connectlngthe upper end of said sheet with Vthe upper end of said card, substantially the lower half of-` said sheet beingv upwardly folded onto the 'upperY half along Ya foldy line at the upper margin of said signature area of said cardv and constituting'a flat support upon which to lay any check drawn on said account for inspection and accurate comparison of the check signature` with the subjacent signature on said signature area of said card, said folded sheet constituting a pocket in which to retain the various checks after inspection and signature comparison, said lower half of` said sheet being. free of connection with said upper half except. along said fold line, to permit checks in said .pocket to project indcatively `beyond either end thereof.vr f

4. A bank account expediter comprisinga file card to be kept ,by a bank, said card being `of greater dimension from its upper to its lower edge than the corresponding dimension of a conventional bank check, saidcard having an area along its lower end upon which the signature of a depositor having an account at said bank maybe written, a ruled statementsheetlying upon4 said card upon which entries relating to the account may be Written, said statement sheet being of considerably greater dimension from its upper to its lower end thany the correspondingdimension of said card, and separably engaged connecting means on said card and said statement sheet, de,- tachably connecting the upper end of said state,- ment sheet with the upper end. of said card to permit easy detachment and mailing of said statement sheet tothe depositor and permit easy substitution of a duplicate sheet for. the next statement, substantially the vlower half of said statement sheet being upwardly folded ontofthe upper half along a fold line atthe upper margin of said signature area of said card and constituting free of connection with said upper half except along said fold line, to permit checks in said pocket to project indicatively beyond either end of said pocket and to permit said sheet to be unfolded and laid fiat to facilitate making entries upon it.

RAYMOND E. BAUDER. 

